1. Cavalier & Metaphysical Poetry

2. During the English Renaissance, two major groups of poets emerged:
Metaphysical poets
Mainly middle class
Cavalier poets
Often aristocrats
supported the monarchy of Charles I (his court known as Cavaliers)
“Tribe” or “Sons of Ben”
most talented Cavalier poets—Sir John Suckling, Robert Herrick, and Richard Lovelace
modeled themselves after poet Ben Jonson

3. Cavalier Poetry
Sought to entertain, rather than provoke, their audiences
Employed a conversational style that followed natural speech patterns
Used regular rhythmic patterns in their writing
Used elaborate conceits, or complicated metaphors (like the metaphysical poets)

4. Cavalier Poetry
Highly influenced by the classical Greek and Roman style
Subject matter usually revolved around romantic love
Used classical women’s names in their poetry
Often expressed a philosophy or theme called carpe diem - “seize the day”
popularized by poet Horace
encourages people to make the most out of every moment because of life’s inherent uncertainty

5. Civil War in England
Mid-1600s - between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians (Roundheads)
King Charles I sentenced to death
Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell - new leader of England
Cavaliers, supporters of the monarchy, disappeared from the public eye
Monarchy restored in 1660 with the coronation of Charles II
Only member of “Tribe” who survived this era was Robert Herrick.

6. Metaphysical Poetry Early seventeenth century
Highly intellectual and philosophical
Marked by unconventional imagery
Shunned regular meter or rhyme schemes
Drew metaphors from philosophy, theology, and science, rather than nature
Emphasized analyzing emotion, not expressing it
Dealt with darker subjects and thus demanded more from the reader

7. Metaphysical Poets
Major poets - John Donne, George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, and Andrew Marvell
Neoclassicist Samuel Johnson called these poets “unnatural” and gave metaphysical poetry its name.
Influenced by Elizabethan poets but reacted against their rules and regulations

8. Metaphysical Poets
Used darker subject matter, unlike Elizabethan poetry
Explored meaning of life and the individual’s relationship with God
Were torn between the dictations of the church and their own intuitions
Wrote many sermons, prayers, and other religious works

9. Metaphysical Poetry Appeals to the intellect
Exaltation of wit, which in the 17th century meant a nimbleness of thought; a sense of fancy (imagination of a fantastic or whimsical nature); and originality in figures of speech
Complicated terminology often drawn from science or law
Often poems are presented in the form of an argument

10. Metaphysical Poetry Conceits
complicated and often paradoxical metaphors causing a shock to the reader by the strangeness of the objects compared
Examples: lovers and a compass, the soul and timber, the body and mind
“Plain style” language - unlike Elizabethan “high style,” or ornate use of language
Direct, not flowery, language provoked the mind as well as the heart.

11. Metaphysical Poetry Term coined by Samuel Johnson
Used it as a disparaging term
Thought them to be too proud of their wit
Valued the clarity, restraint and shapeliness of the poets of Augustan Rome
Not until twentieth century was their unconventional style recognized as an important landmark in the history of English literature